A DAP lawmaker today said proceeding with the debate on the Election Commission’s re-delineation report in Parliament would be in violation of the federal constitution, and urged Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia to withdraw it.

Charles Santiago (DAP-Klang) said MPs do not have the right to debate on the report until the courts have decided on all notices of legal challenge against the EC’s re-delineation exercise.

“I should not have to remind Pandikar that he would be violating the rule of law and going against the federal constitution if he allows the debate,” he said during a press conference in Parliament.

“In spite of the constitutional requirement, the EC has yet to investigate the 107 notices of objection filed by Selangor voters against the second proposal by the commission in mid-January.”

Santiago said the constitution clearly states that the EC can only submit the report to Prime Minister Najib Razak after the local enquiries are completed.

“Both the Selangor and Penang governments have ongoing cases in relation to the validity of the ‘Lapuran Kajian Semula Persempadanan’, in the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court, respectively,” he said, referring to the re-delineation report released to MPs last week.

“These courts must be allowed to make a decision before the report can become a valid document, which is then submitted to Najib.”

He said Pandikar should be aware of the matter, as he had decided last year that Parliament could not debate cases being heard in the courts.

He said the distribution of the report to MPs last week was a violation of the rules.

“It’s clear that the re-delineation report is being bulldozed through Parliament as the new boundaries benefit Barisan Nasional.”

Putrajaya is to table the report on Wednesday. Pandikar, when releasing the report to lawmakers last week, said it is embargoed until then, and MPs are not allowed to publish or distribute it in any form. – March 26, 2018.